This image provided by the U.S. District Court in Maryland shows a photo of firearms and ammunition that was in the motion for detention pending trial in the case against Christopher Paul Hasson. Prosecutors say that...This image provided by the U.S. District Court in Maryland shows a photo of firearms and ammunition that was in the motion for detention pending trial in the case against Christopher Paul Hasson. Prosecutors say that Hasson, a Coast Guard lieutenant is a "domestic terrorist" who wrote about biological attacks and had a hit list that included prominent Democrats and media figures. He is due in court on Feb. 21 in Maryland. Prosecutors say Hasson espoused extremist views for years. Court papers say Hasson described an "interesting idea" in a 2017 draft email that included "biological attacks followed by attack on food supply." (U.S. District Court via AP)MORE LESS

A federal judge ruled Thursday that a white nationalist Coast Guard officer accused of – but not charged with — planning a terror attack can be released on bail, CNN reported.

Federal prosecutors had urged Christopher Hasson to be detained pending trial because, they said, he “poses a substantial risk of danger to the community.” Hasson allegedly kept a “kill list” of prominent Democratic politicians and journalists and stockpiled some 17 weapons, including two silencers. Prosecutors have said he spent hours at his desk job at the Coast Guard’s Washington, D.C. headquarters searching for information on mass murders.

But magistrate judge Charles Day of Maryland determined that because prosecutors have not and do not intend to charge Hasson with terrorism-related offenses, they don’t have grounds to hold him, according to CNN.

Hasson is charged with illegal possession of unregistered silencers, illegal possession of 17 firearms by an addict of controlled substances, and possession of the opioid Tramadol. In court filings and in hearings, prosecutors detailed Hasson’s alleged fixation on an impending “race war.”

Day said he had “grave concerns” about Hasson’s alleged activities and that the terms of his release still needed to be determined.

“He’s got to have a whole lot of supervision,” Day said, according to CNN. “Somebody who’s got eyes and ears on him like nobody’s business.”

Correction: This article originally misidentified the name of the judge who handed down the ruling as U.S. District Jarrod Hazel, rather than Charles Day.

Allegra Kirkland (@allegrakirkland)
Allegra Kirkland is a New York-based reporter for Talking Points Memo. She previously worked on The Nation’s web team and as the associate managing editor for AlterNet. Follow her on Twitter @allegrakirkland.